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Post by Hammett on Dec 8, 2023 15:01:47 GMT
Hammett gives a slight bow, but is unsure of the proper etiquette here in the courts. Should he speak first or remain silent until addressed? He was quite sure of Queen Flora's take on the matter, and Amber rulers in general. He also decides not everything in the Courts are the opposite of Amber, and it was best to wait to be called up on by Lorcas, so he remains silent, waiting for the Lord to grant him attention.
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Post by Admin on Dec 14, 2023 6:49:52 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/fx2fYZC/Lorcas4~png There is a pause. Lorcas probably expects his lesser to speak first. Then he says in a voice that comes from all directions: "Hammett. One of the Wormwoods' Hammetts, I suppose?"
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Post by Hammett on Dec 14, 2023 7:08:32 GMT
"Yes, your Lordship. I am the Hammett who built and runs Wormwood's. I have to say it pleases me that knowledge of my establishment stretches so far and wide. Xinith and I are old friends from even before the creation of Wormwood's, and when I came to visit him he insisted that I first present myself to you." Hammett bows again, "It is an honor, your Lordship."
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Post by Admin on Dec 16, 2023 4:50:06 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/fx2fYZC/Lorcas4~png "Yes, I'm certain that it is an honour."Lorcas stares at Hammett then down at the game board as if envisioning Hamm as a pawn in the contest. "So you have come to the Courts of Chaos not through any of the Houses great or small but via a demon friend. You have no allies here, so why come? Revenge, is it? I understand. We are in the midst of a great purge, our society once so rigidly maintained is now slack. Security fails and it is the perfect time to take care of some unfinished business and advance one's pet causes."
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Post by Hammett on Dec 16, 2023 17:47:06 GMT
"Uh, no, your Lordship. Nothing as exciting or sinister as that. Apart from wanting to visit the Courts for a long time my only other thought was to maybe find out more about Lady Vada, and why she attacked the shadow world I was calling home. I don't think it was personal, she was after something else, and I am curious to what that was. Also, rumor had it that Princess Coral was staying here in the Courts, and information on her might be valuable, but I am now led to believe that that was just a rumor and not fact."
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Post by Admin on Dec 19, 2023 7:26:48 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/fx2fYZC/Lorcas4~png "A pity. Xinith didn't address you as lord so can I assume you are not a part of Oberon's family? It is also rumoured that you killed King Random Well done, if true. Even if you didn't they all believe you did. Wouldn't you be safer here under the protection of one of Houses? The one employing your friend Xinith, for example.
"I can't fault Vada's goals, yet her execution was sloppy. Her fear of the Pattern ascendant rushed her plans. We are all safer now that she'd dead. A two-for-one with Gerard also dying. She might be considered a martyr in the years to come. A cult in her name must already be growing since I heard that her body was found after the battle. Probably chopped to bits and being worshipped in hidden shrines all across the Ways. "Coral will be less revered. Captured portions of her Pattern infused soul are anathema to our Ways. She was said to reside in Sawall for a time but, as you said, has now departed for shadow. You say that she hasn't returned to Amber?"
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Post by Hammett on Dec 20, 2023 17:07:21 GMT
"As far as I know she hasn't. The expectation-- Well, hope might be a better word. The hope is that once she returns the Shadow Storm and unusual weather that is happening at that end of things will subside. As for any offer of protection, if it was to ever be offered, I would be honoured to be asked, but I would be forced to decline. I have many things I wish to accomplish out in Shadow, not the least of which is getting Wormwood's up and running again. But at the same time, I would be happy to offer whatever little my assistance could be to anyone who is employing and taking care of any of my friends, including Xinith."
Ah, diplomatic talk. Hammett had missed it these last few months.
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Post by Admin on Dec 29, 2023 4:24:13 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/fx2fYZC/Lorcas4~png "You are hoping to lone wolf it? A dangerous play. Your killing Random will buy you goodwill from everyone in the Courts except Merlin who is supposed to have been partial to the man. Be careful of him. Killing Vada also works in your favour with most, but not all. Still, you know what you're about.
"You will find that the weather in Amber is of little concern in the Courts of Chaos. Indeed, we welcome anything that blunts her power while this war with Corwin is being fought. The Hendrakes understand the risks of a two front war so keep the finding Coral talk to a minimum else they'll be after you.
"An offer of assistance? Tell me, what did you make of the war all those years ago? The Black Road and unpleasantness with Prince Brand?"
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Post by Hammett on Dec 29, 2023 6:40:43 GMT
Hammett raises an eyebrow, "It seems I have been out of the loop far more then I feared. I had no idea House Hendrake was at war with Corwin. Over his new Pattern I assume? As for the war, the Black Road and such, I have no first hand account of it. Before all of that began I had already left the Golden Circle to explore shadow. It was actually during that time I first met and became friends with Xinith and the others. I came across a strange shadow barrier of some sort and strength. Xinith and a few other demons had gotten trapped in it and I stuck around and managed to help break them free. After, while they recovered, we got to chatting and became friends. They left to return to the Courts here but I foolishly stuck around and ended up getting caught in the same trap I had just gotten them out of. It took me months to find another way to escape, but the weird way time worked there, years had passed outside. So when I got free and returned to Amber the war had already come and gone. Random was already King. So, like I said, no first hand account of it."
He takes a moment to consider things, "But if you want my opinion of it after the fact, well, I think it all goes back to Oberon. I don't think he was a good father. Maybe a good king, but not a good father. If I were to give him the benefit of the doubt I would say that the infighting between his children was because of his lack of affection and them fighting each other was for his attention and praise. If I am in a cynical mood, I would say he fostered the fighting on purpose. If his children were too busy fighting amongst themselves then they wouldn't have time to plot against him. Them all being immortal probably skews their perceptions of time. Grudges and slights, that would be long forgotten by mortal men, fester for centuries amongst the princes. Prince Brand was just like Eric, Corwin, and the others, except where they were all physically strong he was mentally and mystically powerful, and in a fight you have to use the tools you are given. He used his gifts, like the others used theirs, he was just more successful. For a time at least. But in that hatred, heck maybe not even hatred, just the need to out-do, one-up, or beat his siblings he almost destroyed everything.
"I understand he has many admirers here in the Courts. But I would suggest that admiration is misplaced. By all accounts Prince Brand only ever cared about Prince Brand. Any alliances he might have fostered here in the Courts was only to obtain his own goals. He would have betrayed those bonds just as easily as he betrayed his own family. We are talking about a man so driven to win he tried to murder his own nephew and kill all the rest of his family. He would not think twice about turning on the Courts the minute his use for them was over. He wanted to rule all of existence, not share it with anyone else. My understanding is that he considered all shadow folk, including everyone here in the Courts, as beneath him and the other Ambrites. Mere shadows of his glory to be used and stomped on and thrown away afterword."
"Fortunately most of the other Princes do not share that view, even after the events of the Black Road and the war. I think they all know it was Brand's manipulations that led to the conflict."
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Post by Admin on Jan 2, 2024 2:00:40 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/fx2fYZC/Lorcas4~png "And what about the aims of the Lords of Chaos? Was Amber too strong? Did it need to be weakened or destroyed to balance shadow? Or do you hope for a Pattern triumphant and the Courts of Chaos reduced to a lonely rock floating in the Abyss?"
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Post by Hammett on Jan 2, 2024 2:43:38 GMT
[[OCC: Do the Characters know the history of the Pattern, Amber and Chaos? IE) that Dworkin used the Jewel of Judgment to create the Pattern? and that there was a time before the Pattern existed and everything was just the Courts of Chaos?]]
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Post by Admin on Jan 2, 2024 3:31:25 GMT
OOC: All the basics of the story are out now, details are probably not told especially to those who haven't walked the Pattern. But the idea of shadow existing due to, and caught between, the powers of Pattern and Logrus is known.
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Post by Hammett on Jan 3, 2024 5:51:37 GMT
Hammett replies, "I am not an expert on the workings or building blocks of shadow, or the courts or even Amber. I haven't walked the Pattern or Logrus and have little practical knowledge of such things. But... It seems to me that both entities existed in some sort of balance for many hundreds, if not thousands, of years before Brand messed with things and opened the Black Road. In my youth in Amber I don't recall anyone speaking of the Courts, except as myths or maybe warnings, so the kids wouldn't venture too far out into shadow. "Don't travel too far from Amber or the land and skies will begin to melt and you will be set upon by demons" That kind of thing. And, if I'm not mistaken, most members of the Courts also did not travel far into shadow, either. If Brand hadn't done what he did, then it could have been another thousand years before Amber and The Courts even came into regular contact, let alone any conflict. The infinite shadows between the realms should be more then enough space for both parties to coexist."
He sighs, "But, that is now unfortunately not the case. From the looks of things Corwin's Pattern has "tipped the scales" and disrupted the balance that once existed. I can see how that is a dangerous threat to the Courts, as it is also seems to be a threat to Amber, with all the shadow storms, broken shadow roads and paths and so on. But again, it is a recent event and if shadows truly are infinite then in time a new balance will settle into place. The only question is if we will all live long enough to see that happen, or if we will kill each other off before nature has a chance resolve things on its own."
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Post by Admin on Jan 7, 2024 5:02:47 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/fx2fYZC/Lorcas4~png "And what if there can be no balance? If the power of the two Patterns dissolves away the influence of the Logrus? If your Wormwoods and other places are destroyed and replaced by some crystalline perfection? It will be too late then. The Logrus so weakened would never be able to rise again."
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Post by Hammett on Jan 7, 2024 5:49:11 GMT
Hammett frowns, "Is there evidence of that already happening? If so, then I don't think anyone in Amber would want that either. That sounds like it would be the end of all shadow travel because even using the Pattern, from what I understand, involves making changes as they move until they end up where they want to be. If everything was "crystalline perfection" then they wouldn't be able to do that. Shadow roads and paths would also probably stop working. So if that really is the case, and you have evidence of it happening, then I think it would be in everyone's best interest if an official delegation was sent to Amber and this news told to them. If Corwin's pattern is a threat to all of existence, then Amber would certainly have to help the Courts in resolving the matter."
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